Amber Black On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:07 pm

Anne B. On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:08 pm

Well I am proud of me.. I got a couple of them wrong but that’s ok.. I think I deserve a brownie just for that

7

SnowCat MacDobran On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:18 pm

*blast*

I had guessed JFK (since this was recently discussed with the last inauguration), but double checking on Wikipedia shows Theodore Roosevelt – who came into office when McKinley was assassinated. Boooooo……

falnfenix On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:20 pm

Amanda M On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:21 pm

I think #15 is “technically” a ceremony of adoubement which would also be known as “dubbing”.

12

Kati DeLozier On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:23 pm

I thought JFK too! I also double checked on google and got Teddy. Shucks!

13

marly On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:24 pm

Um – according to Wikipedia – S. G. Tallentyne (Evelyn Beatrice Hall) who wrote a biography of Voltaire actually wrote the phrase… “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”. This quote is often mis-attributed to Voltaire.

14

Deann On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:25 pm

congrats to the winners!
I had a dream the other night after you posted the quiz.. each question was a block of fabric and we had to find the answer blocks of fabric for you to make a quilt of them.
LOL… not sure where that came from.

15

Stephanie On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:26 pm

Awww, poo. I misunderstood one of the questions and got another one wrong. I figure I did well for my first try at a quiz here though!

Karen On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:35 pm

Didn’t win, but I got all the right answers! That’s what really matters.

I love the quotation by de Toequeville. Is it just me or am I sensing a more political bent to this quiz than usual?

21

Courtney On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:36 pm

I have to agree with the previous commenters – the quote is not by Voltaire, but by Tallentyne (which is itself actually a pen name). In my answer I included that the quote is often misattributed to Voltaire.

22

Mary S. On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:38 pm

Very fun! Thanks for the entertaining quiz – my kids helped out since they want an i-pad…really, really want one : )

23

Erika S. On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:39 pm

And the 1st place goes to………? Oh the suspense!!

24

tkorte99 On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:41 pm

This was m y first smarty pants quiz too and I got #15 wrong also. Darn!! It was very challenging though – look forward to participating again in the future!

Courtney On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:46 pm

Forgot to include in my previous comment that the person behind the pen name of Stephen G. Tallentyre is Beatrice Hall. So the correct answer for #6 should really be Stephen G. Tallentyre or Beatrice Hall.

28

Bridget in Minnesota On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:48 pm

Way to go, Everyone!

Thank you, Ree, for another great contest.

29

Courtney On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:49 pm

I also have to second Melita Fain, that technically the proper answer for #15 would be the Adoubement Ceremony.

30

Marie M.C. On Wednesday, June 16 at 9:55 pm

Ree: You’re the truly scary smart-pants for coming up with another difficult yet fun quiz. I always learn something new.

31

jill wilks On Wednesday, June 16 at 10:07 pm

Hey, that volcano may not be active right now, but the history is that when it is active look out! it is a super volcano.
Oh dear! where you gonna go when the volcano blows?!

32

adelina On Wednesday, June 16 at 10:08 pm

I agree about #15 having more than one answer…..Accolade is correct too.

fun quiz though

33

MegsP On Wednesday, June 16 at 10:19 pm

Geez people – lighten up. These quizzes are for FUN! Thanks Ree!

34

melissa On Wednesday, June 16 at 10:33 pm

i hope people like me who said adoubement or accolade on number 15 were also included in the drawing. If not, maybe we can have a second one with a booby prize for us?

35

Alison On Wednesday, June 16 at 10:33 pm

I see the non-Voltaire question has already been addressed.
I’m also going to contest the last question though. The largest lake by area and the largest lake by volume are different lakes. “Largest and most voluminous” doesn’t really make sense in my opinion.

36

Monie On Wednesday, June 16 at 10:36 pm

Congratulations to the winners! I am SO happy that there are so many really smart folks out there. It’s a comfort.

37

Debbie On Wednesday, June 16 at 10:38 pm

Teddy was the youngest to become president (age 42), but he became president when McKinley was assasinated. JFK was the youngest to be elected (age 43).

I think #15 has several correct answers–adoubement, accolade, dubbing.

Fun quiz!

38

Mindi On Wednesday, June 16 at 10:43 pm

I feel good…only got one wrong which I misunderstood. #20….thought we were looking for one religion for all 3….I was probably wrong about that anyway. No sour grapes allowed! Congrats to the winners….Well Done!! Looking forward to the next quiz Ree.

39

Millez On Wednesday, June 16 at 10:47 pm

I agree that these quizzes are just for fun, but those prizes! So I have to chime in with the people claiming #6 and a few of the others have points, too.

I know, I know, it’s not Encyclo-REE-dia!

40

marty On Wednesday, June 16 at 10:56 pm

I know it’s for fun, but re #6, Voltaire never said that, he really didn’t. It’s a quote by Tallentyne, his biographer. Over time, it was mistakenly attributed to Voltaire. It isn’t even as if it’s questionable or one of several possibly correct answers. That quote is not by Voltaire – although he did say many wise and wonderful things.

41

Bobbi Jo On Wednesday, June 16 at 11:01 pm

I see a lot of people citing Wikipedia which is often wrong. Our college here doesn’t even consider it a credible source for info. Great quiz! That was rough! The only answer I knew immediately was Willie Nelson.

42

Ellen On Wednesday, June 16 at 11:10 pm

Thanks for the great quiz! I know I must have added some new brain cells!

Also, ANYONE can add an entry on Wikipedia. I would never be using it as a source for factual data and or research when it really matters. Many of the topics have multiple entries which contradict one another, because any layperson can add their opinion or “information” as though it were fact. The entries are not checked for accuracy or edited.

44

Patricia On Wednesday, June 16 at 11:42 pm

JFK was the youngest to be elected President, which is what the question asked. Teddy Roosevelt was the youngest to take office, but he had not been elected.

45

Laura On Wednesday, June 16 at 11:43 pm

Yeah go me! I don’t need a prize to be the winner! A whole three minutes before the next answerer- booyah! :oD

46

Anna Murphey On Wednesday, June 16 at 11:47 pm

I found that number 6 was often attributed to Volitaire but was Evelyn Hall. So I put that.

cristina On Thursday, June 17 at 1:05 am

Ree,

I need a HUGE favor! I want an iPad sooooo bad. I can afford one, but I cannot justify buying one to myself, but more importantly, my husband Can you pretend online that I won so I can just buy one and be over with it!!!!

51

Nicki On Thursday, June 17 at 1:46 am

I liked how you picked the winners this time… gives the rest of us with slower fingers (or a slower internet connection) a chance. Thanks!

52

Ann Hatfield On Thursday, June 17 at 2:14 am

This was my first smartypants quiz and I missed a couple, but I enjoyed it! I will look for these in the future and try again. And hopefully win one of those Imperial Gray mixers too.

53

Jen On Thursday, June 17 at 3:21 am

I’ve avoided the quizzes because I don’t want to have to wait by my computer to see it the instant it appears and try to type fast. I like how you’re doing the selection now. Gives the first few a more equal footing. Just because you’re smart doesn’t mean you can type fast.

(PS. I like reading the answers with the questions. Gives me more immediate satisfaction if I know it or don’t.)

54

RM in MA On Thursday, June 17 at 5:42 am

Thanks for a great quiz Ree. I rushed through it because it was late and I wanted to get to bed which also means a got a few wrong like #8; they key word in that question is “elected”. To agree with another reader, Wikipedia is not always reliable. Anyone can post information on Wiki. I liked that you changed your winner selection.

Also, although you apparently thought you were asking for one lake in question 23, the world’s largest freshwater lake, and the world’s most voluminous freshwater lake are two different bodies of water. Lake Superior is the largest. Lake Baikal is the most voluminous

I thought that new research has found that the USS Californian actually wasn’t very close to the Titanic… hmmm… interesting.

And gooooo Steelers (or the Stillers if you speak Pittsburghese)!

63

diane On Thursday, June 17 at 7:55 am

OK – I got #15 wrong, but still am confused by the wording of #20. Name the religion that is practiced in the majority of each of the following countries – to me is not the same as name the religion practiced ‘by the majority of people’ of each of the following countries. So I got that one wrong too…

carol On Thursday, June 17 at 9:54 am

i agree, most of your questions, like you warned us, came from your 20 facts posts. those people should have read up before they answered. there is always going to be a sour grape in the bunch. get over it!!!

luiloth On Thursday, June 17 at 11:25 am

Oh darn! I messed up one of the answers; I didn’t omit one of the states from the volcano question.
I had fun though and that is what is important.
Thanks for the contest!

76

B Cool in TX On Thursday, June 17 at 11:29 am

Great quiz!!! I got them all correct except for #20 as I put Catholic instead of Christianity. I think if this was a real quiz I would be proud of myself and maybe argue the answer a little bit! Thanks for challenging us! Your kids are in great hands!

77

JudyK On Thursday, June 17 at 11:33 am

This was a great quiz–really stretched my brain! LOL
I missed #15–could there be more than one correct answer for that one?

Val On Thursday, June 17 at 12:10 pm

I’d love to think that you knew all that stuff and just made up the questions off the top of your head. If that’s true, your homeschooling must be amazing!

80

megs On Thursday, June 17 at 12:29 pm

Congrats winners!! That was a tough quiz!
I think the new way of picking winners is great, Ree. Thanks!

81

Monica On Thursday, June 17 at 12:52 pm

Congrats to all the winners, I’m so jealous. This one was really hard, I only got one wrong, maybe I will get lucky next time, either way I have a lot of fun doing it with my 12yrs old boy. Thanks Ree, can’t wait for next one !!!

82

JesR On Thursday, June 17 at 1:06 pm

P-Dub.
You are absolutely DEPRESSING me with these! Do you realize that my stinkin’ smartypants husband knew the answer to all but TWO of those?!!! I’m feeling like an idiot right about now, and I need you to post a quiz with girlie crap he’ll know nothing about, asap! I don’t even need a prize! …just to know something he dutton!! You know?

Thanks sincerely. From the bottom of my sun-burnt heart.

83

Alyson On Thursday, June 17 at 2:15 pm

Just wondering…..do the people that participate in these quizzes know the answers right off the top of their heads or are they searching the internet for the answers? I’m just asking because there is NO way I would do well on this if I was trying to answer without looking the answers up plus I didn’t know if that was allowed or not.

84

dick On Thursday, June 17 at 3:41 pm

You are wrong on the youngest president. Teddy Roosevelt was younger than JFK when he became president.

I don’t do these because they make my brain hurt. I looked at the answers of this one and didn’t make it to #7 and quit. You guys are GOOD. I tried a few of them and it made me crazy.
Congrats!!

87

Shelly On Thursday, June 17 at 7:33 pm

I like the way you picked randomly selected winners much better. Congrats to all the winners.

88

Courtney On Thursday, June 17 at 8:45 pm

The answer to #6 is NOT Voltaire. While I realize that previous commenters are incorrectly citing wikis, they are still correct that Hall/Tallentyre is the correct answer.

The quote in #6 is from the book The Friends of Voltaire, written by Evelyn Beatrice Hall, under the pen name Tallentyre. Hall was paraphrasing Voltaire’s attitude in his work Essay on Tolerance. She was not quoting him, and has been clear on this. However, the line continues to be incorrectly credited to Voltaire.

This link lists all of the proper information and citations showing that the answer to #6 is NOT Voltaire. Please see all of the information listed under point 8:

Joeceff Meek On Thursday, June 17 at 10:56 pm

Sorry, but count me out on your next quiz. You have the right to run it in what ever manner you wish, but in my opinion, you have four questions that are incorrect.

Before you tell me it’s sour grapes, I would NOT have had all of the answers correct even considering the four questions I have issue with. I misread the youngest president elected question and answered T. Roosevelt. So I could not have won no matter how you respond to the issues proposed below. I just have a real problem with quizzes that profess to be difficult or whatever, and then have obviously wrong answers in them.

1. The most obvious is #6 which is the quote wrongly attributed to Voltaire. Even modern books of quotes have corrected this in most recent versions. This is one is wrong no matter how you look at it. Sorry, just the facts.

These other three are open to “interpretation”, but strictly speaking and according to the wording of your quiz, the answers you give are at best inaccurate and really I consider them to be wrong.

2. Question #7 is “What words were inscribed on William Shakespeare’s grave?” It does not ask for the modern English translation. The answer you give is the equivalent of asking for the inscription on a French tombstone, but the saying the correct answer is in English. This is not kosher in my opinion. Especially for a quiz that’s supposed to be difficult.

3. Dubbing is not a ceremony. It is the act of touching the shoulders (usually with a sword) to confer the title in question. Becoming a knight actually has many ceremonies in many different countries and is called many different things. The act of dubbing the person a knight is an important part of many of these ceremonies, but it’s not the ceremony itself.

4. In the last question “largest” and “most voluminous” are not the same thing. There should actually be two answers to the question or either answer should be correct. Not to mention the fact that the largest freshwater body is disputed depending on whether you count Michigan-Huron as one body of water or two. Most geologist accept that it is one and therefore the largest. You are correct that Baikal is the most voluminous lake.

Hopefully you can use this critique to make your future quizzes fun and more accurate. Thanks for listening (reading) my opinion.

I hate to be a sore loser, spread sour grapes, whatever…but it’s clear that the answer to #6 is a conflict. The winner’s are all winning with a wrong answer, while those who got it correct are excluded. Ree, are you going to address this issue at all?

Holy controversey batman! I came by to see who won, and sadly since I wrote T. Roosevelt I did not win. Clearly I need to go with my gut a little more. But I am oh-so-proud to have gotten every other answer correct. Even #6 which is in hot debate!
Fun quiz, amazing prizes, and much MUCH better format than the fastest typer thingie…. good job, Ree!

Susan On Monday, June 21 at 8:00 am

Teddy Roosevelt, at 42 yrs, was the youngest president to serve in office after McKinley’s assasination. JFK, at 43 yrs, was the youngest ELECTED president.
#8 JFK was in fact the right answer because of how the question was worded.

97

Courtney On Tuesday, June 22 at 9:30 am

It’s not a “fun diversion” to work on a quiz that ends up being judged on factually incorrect answers.

98

Rhonda On Saturday, September 18 at 10:13 am

Congratulations to the winners I did the quiz with my daughter Susie….and even though we did not win, and their may be controversy with answers, it was a ton of fun. We will do it next time. However, what’s up with comments above that are dated on Tuesday June 22? I am lost in time. Literally.

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